Hi Everyone, I've missed you all, but for whatever reason, I just haven't been in the right phase to be here posting. The last month plus has been going fine. Nothing really interesting to say except it looks like I may be starting to have gallbladder issues and summer break is over and I'm back teaching my junior high students. I maintained my goal weight up until school started when I lost 7 lbs to hit a all time low of 129.8 and then in the next 5 or so days, gained 10lbs! I have to assume it's mostly water, but it's put enough of a scare in me to try and refocus on eating my 3 meals a day and up the exercise. How are all of you? Dawn

I have had one consult 3 or 4 months ago. The doctor told me I was ready then, I have waited and still want to lose more inches. I have been working out and building muscle and it sure makes a difference. I would like to wait until 18 months post op and really firm up my muscles and then see what needs to be done. Yes I need the boob thing and the tummy. I will probably do the arms too. I am in no hurry because I have noticed so many changes in my body buy working out and I just got started. I still have about 18 lbs to go to be at my personal goal. It has slowed down; however, I have been eating more and building muscle so now I am concentrating on inches rather than weight. I am going to the obesity help convention this next weekend in So. Cal. I will be doing a Juice Plus Booth and will be able to attend Dr. Katzens presentation. Hopefully I will be able to speak to him. I have already lost 110 lbs. my Gastric By-pass doctor said I did not have enough skin to have insurance cover it. Hopefully he is wrong. The first doctor told me he does not put anything through insurance because most wont pay. I think Dr Katzen will do whatever he can to get it covered. I hope.. Diana 263/153/135-140 ish

Good Tuesday to All...... How's everyone doing? How was the long weekend? We had a good weekend. My sister came for the weekend, then we went to the New York State Fair yesterday. We had a good time. No official exercise for the weekend except the walking we did yesterday, which was quite a bit.... Weight...183 still this morning. Hope you're all doing great. Have a great day Tammy

Hey Kathy, I just checked out your new pic on your profile... YOU LOOK WONDERFUL... September is a hard time, for some, to get time off. How fun would it be, though??? Good luck with all your plastics. You'll have to keep us posted on your progress. Debbie talked to Monica the other day about the PA OH event for next year & apparently, as of right now, they're not having one in PA. Even though Magee had said they would, apparently, this past one didn't genereate enough patients. We'll see, though. Deb is still working on an OH event in Syracuse for next Spring. We'll keep everyone posted on that. Nice hearing from you. Tammy

Hi Eileen- thanks for your support.. I haven't been feeling myself lately- and this past Wed I went for an endoscopy and now have an ulcer- which is more painful than the one I had as a pre-op, for some reason.. I have no clue about my menopause sympotms- I guess I should be glad I have none. My surgeon told me- that women gain testosterone and men gain estrogen the more they increase their weight- so with losing weight- I thought I would be decreasing estrogen- but NO- its the testosterone thats leveling off- and the estrogen thats in the fat cells- well there is just less of it- from what I gather.. My desire for chocolate or pizza etc is not what it was- thats not my problem..I still routinely do not eat bread- or drink caffeine or drink soda..and Im very selective if I have anything with sugar in it..I really think I became sugar addictive when I was young and..when that sweet tooth does strike- one of anything is okay with me.I routinely eat sugar free or "no sugar added" stuff- which I also double check...my problem was always portion control- and there are days- when I come home from the gym- and just wanna eat pancakes - eggs & sausage..I might even order that at a diner- but will eat the eggs first- and some of the rest- but i could push myself to graze and now- I just dont want leftovers- I leave my extra food .. But now with this ulcer- Im trying to be positive- and think that okay- the medicine is working- but Nexium works differently than prevacid apparently- and Im trying to adjust..Im trying to keep it light- but boy- you do take for granted that your pouch is working well..so be careful with overdoing it. hugs Donna